Rare 1952 Jaguar XK120 Motor Rebuild

Here we completely strip down a C4820 engine including the camshafts, crankshaft, cylinder head, timing gear sprockets, water pump and oil pump. Numbered W4520-8. #jaguar #xk120

0:00 Reveal
1:50 Transmission/Bellhousing
5:22 Cylinder Head
25:36 Water Pump/Balancer
29:54 Timing Gear
33:24 Block/End Float
38:57 Distributor Drive
42:29 Big Ends/Pistons
44:44 Main Caps/Scroll Seal
49:03 Water Jacket
51:43 Clean Parts

[pault]

Dad gave me a 1947, 3-5 litre Drophead Coupe in the 1960s . Still in the family. Did all my own servicing with dads help. I can recall taking the starter motor off and setting on the bench. “What are you doing with that ?“ asks dad. “ Taking it down to get fixed” I reply. “ No you’re not. You’ll repair it yourself. “ says dad . So I stripped the armature re-lacquered a hundred miles of copper wire, rewound and baked the armature in the kitchen oven.
Recovered the fields etc. put it back together tested it. “Yay presto works!” “See how much money you saved” says dad. “Yeah. Thanks dad...”:50 years later still remember it. I’m now in Aussie and the car’s in NZ Still drives ok. Richard, just found your great video. You got yourself a new follower.

[jimfarrell]

Yep we certainly want to see this job completed with more video's. Thanks

[johncullinan]

You’ve warmed us up, now we need to go the full trip, all the sights, all the stops and My Father worked at the Jaguar factories in Coventry for 36 years, he probably made the chassis on that Jag. 🇬🇧👍🏻

[MM_in_Havasu]

We have a 1952 XK120 Jag that we inherited from my father-in-law when he passed away last year at age 92, it has been restored to its original trim and, thankfully, has a fresh engine in it.
This video has been incredibly useful to me, keep them coming on these Jag DOHC inline 6 engines! I've got ours running like a watch now and want to keep it that way.

[annahopp]

What a wonderful way to learn about XK engines.

[Jnike]

Your video brings back memories of my rebuilds on my 1965 & 1966 S types motors and restoration process.

[ceb]

Boy this video brings back memories. In 1960, I bought my first car. A 1954 Jaguar XK120M, for $800. Ran great . Then one day something happened and the engine had to be removed to fix the problem. A friend who owned a shop did the work to fix the car. My task was to take the head apart and do the valve job part of the repair. This was the first time in my life I ever worked on a car. Slowly one by one I replaced all new valves, springs, spacers, and bearings. Tightened the cam shaft down checked the clearance, and repeated it if the clearance was off. Put the car back together and attempted to start it. Would not start, then discovered we had put the wires into the distributor 180 degree out. Switched the wire and it started right up. One thing we did was shaved some off the head. That had a big impact. At 2500RPM, it was like the car was kicked in the butt, and it took off. What surprised me years later was the 120 had a metal timing belt in 1954. At the present time my 2001 Ferrari 360 has a rubber one and it was not until the Ferrari 430 came out with a metal timing belt.

[wymple]

I never gave a twit about the inside of a Jag engine, yet I found this fascinating & watched every second! Can't wait for the rest. It's so much more interesting than just another standard V8 build.

[maltbie]

I admit I have not seen any of your videos in a while, glad to see your dad is still staying busy. Thanks for sharing about this early engine. Charles

[TeemarkConvair]

as a former owner of a MK7 and 3.8, ( dad had a XK140 Drop and a E) i found this a fascinating journey into the distant past.. Keep it coming. thanks

[firebladecymru]

Great work, I’m from Coventry where this was made and have grown up with Jaguars. I liked the care taken with this strip down and very impressed with the 1950’s engineering.

[vitale]

Great instructional video - I'm taking notes in prep for rebuilding my xk120 motor this summer !!!

[larrysorenson]

The careful and methodical disassembly technique added to the clear descriptions of rare early engineering technologies comes only after years of study and experience. It is difficult to imagine the heart of this old girl being in better hands. And thanks to dad too. He must be very proud.

[MrKenny]

I've developed a fascination for vintage car engines quite late in life and I find your videos easy to follow and very enjoyable. I look forward to hearing that fine old Jaguar engine purr once again.

[tedgaida]

Came across this video unintentionally. Made me wish I had such a source of information some 50 years ago. Had an XK150 which dropped a big end not long after I purchased (second hand with a lot of Australian miles on). Started the rebuild then married. Never finished it, but did keep in touch with the purchaser for some years. Rebuilt to Concourse Condition over the following 15 years.

[andy]

Those long camshafts, with so few lobes, always surprise me when the cover comes off, compared to modern engines.
I really enjoy these videos, with his vast experience and enthusiasm for whatever he’s working on.

[johnmichaelbrummer]

For an old guy like me it is hugely entertaining to see this job done so well ! Wish I had the facilities and tools to do it myself still, but your video is a tremendous replacement and very keep doing these great jobs. Probably a useful suggestion is to maintain a website with additional notes on details, plan, parts etc. for those who like the same challenge in future!

[williamkennedy]

I saw my first XK120 in my village of Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, price £55, i was a ten year old and pesterred my dad to buy it, wisely he didnt, but i got the bug, i am enjoying watching this video so much so a big thank you, from Cheshire UK

[glenkelly]

If you type " 1961 jaguar factory tour " you will see these engines and jaguar cars being made.
Great to see these guys saving one 👍

[jimlewis]

I'm an Italian car guy. But, I love the jag engine! A really good dismantle and diagnosis. This guy is good. Thank you so much for a great video!